Footpad horn hypertrophy and vertical fissure accompanied by white line disease 2 in case of concurrent deep digital sepsis in a culling cow

A5.2 year-old Holstein cow was presented with lameness and abnormal weight bearing in a slaughterhouse. Widening of the periople and swelling of the heel area in the lateral claw was more permanent than the medial claw. Vertical fissure [VF] involving the coronary band to the middle of the dorsal wall of the medial hind claw was observed. It was also extended to the bearing surface in the inner surface of the claw wall. White line disease 2 [WLD2] was seen in the length of VF on the bearing surface. The horn of the bulb apex of the lateral hind claw was hypertrophic. There was a groove in the footpad between the apex and base of the bulb too. Grosspathologically, the digital bones showed a wide range of bone changes such as new bone formation, pedal osteolysis and bony ankylosis. The hind leg was amputated at the tarsus immediately after slaughter. The lower limbs of lame cows were examined and the type and distribution of digital lesions were tabulated. An x-ray machine was used in this study to take radiographic images. The radiographic images taken from the involved digits of the affected case depicted a quite wide range of radiographic signs. After the first review of the X-ray film, samples were selected for further procedures through putrefaction. Laminitis may have affected this case at some previous time. Routine trimming seems to have prevented the premature culling in the cows with claw lesion

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and encephalomalacia in a budgerigar [Melopsittacus undulatus]

Encephalomalacia is softening or loss of brain tissue following cerebral infarction; cerebral ischemia infection, craniocerebraltrauma or other injuries. Cholangiocarcinomas are malignant neoplasms of biliary epithelium, which usually arise from the intrahepatic ducts. A budgerigar was presented with a history of ataxia, decreased activity, neck weakness and weight loss. Supportive care was attempted, but the bird did not improve and euthanasia was elected. At necropsy, the liver was pale and large. There were two symmetrical pale areas on the cortical surface of cerebrum. Representative specimens from all tissues were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin and eosin [HE]. In gray matter of cerebral tissue, there were small clear vacuoles of varied size that formed in the cytoplasm of neuron cell bodies. Proliferation of capillaries was seen. The fluid-filled clear spaces were in the white matter especially in peduncles. There were a few thromboses in the vessels and neuronal necrosis of cerebrum. Neoplastic tissue was limited to the liver. There were numerous epithelial lined ducts with an associated dense fibrous stroma. Cholangiocarcinoma and encephalomalacia were confirmed based on the macroscopic and microscopic evidences. It seems that chronic exposure to a mycotoxin and vitamin E deficiency are probable causes of encephalpmalacia and cholangiocarcinoma in this bird

[Effects of co-administration of soy extract and vitamin D3 on serum calcium level and thyroid function in mice]

The Thyroid gland with two symmetrical lobes has an important role in metabolism of the body and regulating of calcium. Any factor making structural and hormonal changes in this gland can produce metabolic disorders. To investigate the functional changes of the thyroid gland following coadministration of soy extract and Vitamin D3, 42 mature female mice in 7 groups were studied for 35 days. Two doses of soy extract [5 and 10 g/kgBW/day]; two doses of Vitamin D3 [100 and 200 micro g/kgBW/day]; and, a combination of both soy extract and Vitamin D3 with two doses were fed to each mouse by gavage. At the end of the feeding trial, following anesthetizing by diethyl ether, mice were bled. Serum levels of calcium were determined by method Colorimetry, and serum concentrations of T3, T4, TSH were determined by method Radio Immuno Assay. Data was statistically analyzed by the one way ANOVA test and significant differences were observed between groups [p<0.001]. Results showed the occurrence of a dose-dependent hypothyroidism in mice receiving only soy extract. In mice receiving only vitamin D3, significant and dose dependent increases of calcium levels, significant and dose-dependent decreases of TSH levels and, insignificant decreases in serum concentrations of T3 and T4 were observed. Finally, groups receiving a combination of high doses of soy extract and Vitamin D3, showed hypothyroidism. In conclusion, this study suggests that co-administration of soy extract and Vitamin D3, only in low doses, can balance the effects of individual use of these components on thyroid function and calcium homeostasis

[Abattoir study on morphopathology of claw capsule in culling lame cows]

The majority of bovine lameness involves structures of the digit. A prompt identification of problematic cases is needed to be done for prevention of premature culling decision. This cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out at an abattoir in the vicinity of Tehran. 41 cases of culled lame cows, with special reference to the claw lesions and their distribution were randomly selected. All amputated limb were referred to Pathology Department for more routine pathological studies by Maceration and Bleaching. In this study, postmortem examination revealed typical changes of chronic laminitis were among the most common pathological features, suggesting that laminitis may have affected virtually all the herd at some previous time. Clinical signs are as follows: the claws were much taller and more boxy than normal and the abascial wall was convex in all directions. A bark-like substance occurred on the wall in some cases. Horn quality was poor in affected claws. Asymmetrical swelling of the heel and also appreciable widening of the periople part on the affected digit were the most common clinical features. Based on the results the following conclusions were reached: 1] chronic laminitis has an important role on the trend of culling in lamecows 2] the characteristic changes in the claw in culling lame cows may provide useful on-farm diagnostic technique for culling decision or attempt for appropriate therapy, particularly in deep sepsis cases

experimental study on early pathogenesis of a very virulent isolate of infectious bursal disease virus, employing immunohistochemistry

In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to clarify the early stages of viral kinetics and cyclic course of IBDV, IR499, which has been described earlier as a very virulent strain [vvIBDV]. Fifteen, 4-week-old SPF chickens were inoculated with 10[3] EID[50] of vvIBDV, IR499, via oculo/nasal route. Five birds served as controls, and inoculated with phosphate buffered saline [PBS]. The birds were then bled, and tissue samples from bursa of Fabricius, cecal tonsils, liver, spleen, thymus and thigh muscle were harvested at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h post-inoculation [p.i.]. Typical positive signals were first observed as early as 3 h p.i. in lymphoid cells of cecal tonsils [the organ of primary affinity] and Kupfer cells of liver. Viral antigens in bursa were first found at 6 h p.i. which represents the occurrence of primary viraemia. After secondary viraemia, the virus appeared in spleen and thymus at 12 h p.i. These findings at early stages of viral infection, represented IBDV, IR499, as a very virulent strain with a rapid and generalized course, at in vivo level